Metropolitan Herman was born [nee Joseph Swaiko] on [[February 1]], 1932, in Bairdford, Pennsylvania. He completed his primary and secondary education in the West Deer Township school system and enrolled in Robert Morris University. There, he graduated with an associate's degree in secretarial science. He subsequently served as company clerk in the Adjutant General's Corps of the United States Army, stationed in Labrador.

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Metropolitan Herman [nee Joseph Swaiko] was born on [[February 1]], 1932, in Bairdford, Pennsylvania. He completed his primary and secondary education in the West Deer Township school system and enrolled in Robert Morris University. There, he graduated with an associate's degree in secretarial science. He subsequently served as company clerk in the Adjutant General's Corps of the United States Army, stationed in Labrador.

After his discharge from the army in 1959, he enrolled at [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)|Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary]], and graduated in 1963. In March 1964, he was [[ordination|ordained]] as a [[deacon]], and in April 1964 was ordained a [[priest]]. Subsequently, he served on the seminary's administrative staff and was an instructor of Church Slavonic. He also served as [[rector]] of churches in Dundaff and Union Dale, PA.

After his discharge from the army in 1959, he enrolled at [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)|Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary]], and graduated in 1963. In March 1964, he was [[ordination|ordained]] as a [[deacon]], and in April 1964 was ordained a [[priest]]. Subsequently, he served on the seminary's administrative staff and was an instructor of Church Slavonic. He also served as [[rector]] of churches in Dundaff and Union Dale, PA.

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Biography

Metropolitan Herman [nee Joseph Swaiko] was born on February 1, 1932, in Bairdford, Pennsylvania. He completed his primary and secondary education in the West Deer Township school system and enrolled in Robert Morris University. There, he graduated with an associate's degree in secretarial science. He subsequently served as company clerk in the Adjutant General's Corps of the United States Army, stationed in Labrador.

After his discharge from the army in 1959, he enrolled at Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, and graduated in 1963. In March 1964, he was ordained as a deacon, and in April 1964 was ordained a priest. Subsequently, he served on the seminary's administrative staff and was an instructor of Church Slavonic. He also served as rector of churches in Dundaff and Union Dale, PA.

After the death of Archbishop Kiprian (Borisevich), Herman was elected Bishop of Philadelphia on March 17, 1981 and rector of Saint Tikhon's Seminary in May 1982. In 1994, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop. From May to September 2001, Archbishop Herman served as the temporary administrator of the OCA, while Metropolitan Theodosius was on a medical leave of absence.

Election as Metropolitan

On April 2, 2002, Metropolitan Theodosius (who had suffered a series of strokes) submitted a petition to the Holy Synod of the OCA, requesting his retirement. The Holy Synod granted his request, and announced an election for his replacement to be held on July 22, at the OCA's Thirteenth All-American Council in Orlando.

No candidate received the required two-thirds majority during the first round of voting, which necessitated a second round. During the second round, Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada received the majority of votes, but again not the required two-thirds. Subsequently, the Holy Synod decided to elect Archbishop Herman (Metropolitan Theodosius was selected in a similar manner in 1977, having not received a two-thirds majority of votes).

Archbishop Herman was enthroned on September 8, 2002 at a ceremony in St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The enthronement ceremony and subsequent reception were attended by a number of prominent Orthodox and secular figures.

Retirement

The final years of Metr. Herman's tenure were marred by financial and other scandals. In the autumn of 2005, the OCA administration was publicly accused of financial misconduct by its former treasurer, Protodeacon Eric Wheeler. On September 3, 2008, the Special Investigative Committee of the OCA released its 32 page report on this scandal. The report was presented to the Holy Synod and Metropolitan Council. The report "held the whole OCA administrative structure responsible for failure". It also recommended "discipline" for 5 individuals. Among them are the former Metropolitan Theodosius and the Metropolitan Herman. It recommended that the Metropolitan Herman resign, retire or be defrocked. Shortly before public release of the document, Metropolitan Herman requested medical leave of absence for nine months. The Metropolitan Council requested that the Holy Synod deny the Metropolitan's request for a leave of absence. On September 4, 2008 Metropolitan Herman voluntarily retired from his position as Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America.

A subsequent formal investigation, chaired by Bishop Nikon (Liolin) of Boston, examined St. Tikhon's Monastery, Seminary, and Bookstore, all of which were presided over by Met. Herman as bishop of Eastern Pennsylvania for several decades. Formally released to the public in March, 2010, it concluded that "Metropolitan Herman’s failure to properly exercise his fiduciary duty in supervising activities over which he had sole control led to the loss of or unaccountability for thousands of dollars of monastery money." The investigative committee recommended Met. Herman's removal from the vicinity of St. Tikhon's Monastery and Seminary: "Considering the great amount of monastery debt, the loss of thousands for dollars of monastery money through improper supervision... and the high loss of morale from these actions, the committee believes that Metropolitan Herman’s continued presence at the St. Tikhon’s complex is detrimental to the St. Tikhon’s community.”